A seven-minute presentation on a sensitive but serious subject matter – sexual predation – earned Christyna Caldwell first place in the senior speech category at the 4-H Manitoba Communications Extravaganza.
As a member of the Kenton Kraftsmen 4-H Club, Caldwell, was among the 60 4-H members to participate in the event held virtually for the first time, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic…
“My speech was the story of the petition I started to lobby the federal government to make changes to the Criminal Code of Canada,” Caldwell said, who is in Grade 12 at Hamiota Collegiate.
Read Also
A place of national honour for former deputy ag minister, Dori Gingera-Beauchemin
Long public service, focus on community and industry leadership launch Dori Gingera-Beauchemin into 2025 Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame honourees
“Hearing I won, I was ecstatic! When I received the news that the government wouldn’t make the suggested changes to the criminal code I was incredibly disappointed but advancing to Provincials with my speech allowed me to continue to raise awareness on the subject of child sexual abuse and keep my message in the forefront of people’s minds.”
Caldwell was the winner in the 15- to 17-age category. An excerpt of her speech follows:
Ripples in the Pond
“Each of us can make a difference. Together we can make a change! — Barbara Mikulski
Have you ever heard the name Peter Whitmore? Peter Whitmore is one of Canada’s most notorious pedophiles; he was convicted of sexual offences against nine children in a span of 13 years starting in 1993 and ending in 2006. One of the last two children in 2006 that he abducted and offended against is my good family friend Zachary Miller.
Zach was 10 when Whitmore used a 13-year-old boy whom he had abducted from Winnipeg to lure Zach away from the safety of his farm in Whitewood, Sask., allowing Whitmore to abduct Zach. Both boys were held captive in an old, abandoned farmhouse in Kipling, Sask. (less than 20 minutes from the Millers’ Farm) for three days before Zach escaped and Peter Whitmore was placed under arrest.
Before the trial Whitmore was given a plea deal: if he were to plead guilty to all counts, he would not have a dangerous offender designation placed on him, and Zach and the other boy would not have to testify in court. Whitmore accepted the deal and was given a life sentence without the possibility for parole for seven years. Peter Whitmore remains in federal prison today and although he has been eligible for parole since 2013 to date he is not seeking parole.
It is loopholes such as this in our judicial system that got me wondering how could someone be repeatedly convicted of heinous crimes against children and continue to get out of prison only to reoffend again? Was the public notified when he was released? Or was he simply able to walk out the prison doors, return to daily life and find his next victim? With his past offences, why was he not designated a dangerous offender long before he abducted Zach? The designation “dangerous offender” is reserved for Canada’s most violent criminals and sexual predators. Crown attorneys can seek the designation during sentencing and must show that there is a high risk that the criminal will commit violent or sexual offences in the future. I think it is so important for more designations to be given to more dangerous offenders like Peter Whitmore, and for the public to be more aware that people like him are out there.
I decided to try to lobby the government to change the dangerous offender designation. But how does one go about lobbying the government in the first place? How do I write a legal petition? What are the rules and regulations? How old do you have to be to create a petition to lobby the government? How should I word it? Those were just a few of the dozens of questions I needed answers to.
My petition was online for 90 days, and on the day that it closed I had received 1,396 signatures from all across Canada. I had received support from every single province and territory. I was overwhelmed with gratitude for every person who took the time to show their support for my petition. It is still hard to believe the support I received.
What is truly remarkable to me is the number of child sexual abuse survivors who reached out to me to thank me for giving a voice to the subject and lobbying for change. That makes me feel extremely proud!
When I received the response to my petition on Dec. 11, 2020 I was more than disappointed. They gave a rather token political response. Their response was basically that there is already a section of the code that deals with sexual interference, missing the intent behind the proposed amendment completely.
Although I was disappointed in their decision not to make an amendment to that portion of the criminal code, I believe that all the attention that my petition got across Canada started a much-needed dialogue about child sexual abuse. Just like throwing a rock in a pond, starting hard conversations such as this will cause a ripple effect that will keep people talking about things that make them uncomfortable, and encourage people to stand up for what they believe in. If you have the chance, throw that rock into the pond and see what ripples you can create.
In the words of Nelson Mandela… “History will judge us by the difference we make in the lives of children!”
4-H beneficial
Beyond her years, the 17-year-old daughter of David and Val Caldwell, has been involved with 4-H for 11 years.
Caldwell said experiences on various fronts, under the guidance of head leader, Candace Tolton, have brought forth positivity from a club and personal level.
“Being involved has allowed myself to overcome shyness and increase my confidence, and hone my public speaking skills,” shared Caldwell, who enjoys farm life with her parents near Harding.
“4-H has also enabled myself to give back to my community in so many ways, and has opened doors to experience on a local, provincial and national level.”
She has been the recipient of the Jean Gompf Memorial Trophy five times. The trophy is awarded to the Kenton Kraftsmen member who goes the furthest at ‘speeches,’ which is a core criteria of being involved in 4-H. Caldwell was also the 4-H Gold Watch Award winner in 2020 and recently was the recipient of the South Parkland Bursary.
Along with being one of six youth presently enrolled in the club, Caldwell is also the junior chair of the South Parkland Area Council, and sits as a youth adviser on the 4-H Manitoba provincial board of directors.
